Latch



July 22, 1958" J. KAUFMAN 2,844,401

LATCH I 4 Filed Feb. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. KAUFMAN July 22, 1958 LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1955 United States Patent O LATCH Jack Kaufman, Chicago, 111., assignor to Compco Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application February 4, 1955, Serial No. 486,089

7 Claims. (Cl. 292-80) This invention relates to improvements in latches and more particularly it relatesto improvements in a novel, concealed latch enabling a door cover to be both closed and opened by merely pushing the same to its closed position.

Devices for latching closure members including doors, cupboards and the like, are well known and universally used. Such latches are usually desgined to' cooperate with a member in the door or closure member to latch the same when the closure member is closed, thereby retaining it in its closed position. Heretofore, however, such latching devices usually required the provision of additional devices such as handles and the like for the purpose of unlatching the closure member and permitting its being opened. In certain applications, such as for example, in electrical fixtures, trap doors, cabinets, and the like, the presence of a protruding member such as a handle or similar device is objectionable. In such cases it has been the practice heretofore to provide a keyhole into which may be fitted a key for unlatching the closure member. In some instances, however, the provision of a keyhole is undesirable, especially when full concealment is necessary.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a novel latch which will overcome all of the objections mentioned hereinabove.

Another object is to afford an improved latching mechanism which is itself completely concealed and which requires no auxiliary devices such as handles, keys or tools for unlatching the same.

A further object is to provide a completely concealed latch especially useful in electrical fixtures, trap doors, cupboards and closets of all types, hinged windows, cabinets, skylights, and any other devices in which a closure memberisemployed andin which it is desirable to maintain a completely concealed latch with no outward evidence of the location of the same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a latching mechanism having a safety catchwhich will insure positive latching regardless of the amount of force exerted in closing the closure member.

Still a further object is to-alford a latching device which will first latch the closure member and then automatically assume a position whereby a slight push on the closure member will release the latch and permit the opening of the closure member. Notwithstanding this the closure member is securely latched prior to the exertion of pressure thereon.

7 Yet another object is to provide an improved greatly simplified latch in which no moving members subject to excessive frictional wearing are employed.

Yet a further object is to provide a concealed latch which may be'readily installed and utilized in connection with closure members which are positioned either horizontally or vertically.

Finally another object is to provide a novel latch of simple,'inexpensive construction, yet sturdy and most efiective.

2,844,401 Patented July 22, 1958 With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages .should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referringto the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a covered overhead illuminating fixture in which my invention is contained in fully concealed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cabinet with a door hung in a vertical plane and showing my improved latch installed therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an electrical illuminating fixture showing the latch in end elevation with the cover of the fixture in open position during its movement towards the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the latch in substantially the same position and showing in phantom outline the position of the latch members immediately prior to reaching the first or intermediate latching position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the cover in a more nearly closed position with the cooperating members of the latch in the prelatching position shown in phantom outline in Fig. 4 of the drawings;

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to Fig. ,4 but showing fragments of the latch members in the position immediately prior to their assuming the intermediate or safety latching position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 5 but showing the cover fully closed and also showing the latch with the members positioned in the first or intermediate latching position, i. c. with the safety catch in operative position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the complete latching device showing the members' of the same in the first latching position at the intermediate stop;

I Fig. 9 is an end elevational view similar to Figs. 3, 5

, and 6 showing the cover after it has returned to its normal closed position and the members of the latch at the second or final latching stop in static position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the cover pushed inwardly for the purpose of unlatching the same and also showing thelatch members disengaged;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 9 and 10 showing the cover moving towards its open position and illustrating the relative positions of the latch members in this final or unlatching step; and e Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 1212 in Fig. 3 of the drawings and looking down on the latching members mounted in the fixture.

Referring first to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the latch which is indicated generallyby referencenumeral 20, is shown installed in: a cabinet C having a hinged door 22. It further will be noted that the latch comprises two members, one a male actuating member 24 affixed to the door 22 and the other a female spring latching member 26 afiixed to the inner wall of the cabinet C. Although Fig. 2 illustrates one application of the novel latch, the operation of the same is best explained in connection with an, overhead or horizontal application, such as, for example, an electrical fixture F as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. For this reason all of the other figures of the drawings illustrate the latch as applied to such a fixture. Hence the operation and construction of the latch will be described in this con nection. A In Figs. 3 and 8 of the drawings the structure of the male actuating member 24 includes a horizontally disposed segment 28 adapted to being afiixed to an inner flanged segment 30 of a cover 32 of the fixture F. The cover may be of any desired shape or construction but in the embodiment chosen for illustration, is a channel-v like framework which in addition to the inner flange 30 has an outer flange 34 with an integrally formed vertically disposed connecting segment 36. The channel 32 is adapted to retain therein a glass panel or lens such as 38. The cover 32 is adapted to fit into the main fixture housing 40. The housing 40 may be defined by a ;ver-' tically disposed wall 42 having the outer end 44 thereof bent back sharply through 180 to afford a smooth edge 46. The inner end such as 48 of the bent end 44 may then be bent outwardly at an angle of 90 to afford a mounting ledge 48 for the female latching member 26.

Returning now to the description of the male actuating member 24, it will be noted that in addition to the horizontally disposed mounting segment 28, an integrallyformed vertically disposed C-shaped segment 50 is integrally formed therewith. The C-shaped member 50 comprises a pair of horizontally disposed legs such as 52 and 54 connected at one end by an integrally formed vertically disposed leg 56. These legs together define an intermediate or cut-out segment opening 58 closed at one end by the vertical segment 56 but open at the inner end thereof. The structure of the actuating member 24 is completed by a strip-shaped tongue 60 integrally formed at the outer edge of the inner end of the leg 52 disposed in an inclined plane as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. It should be noted that the male actuating member 24 is made of a 'fairly heavy gauge material to insure adequate stiffness and strength thereof.

Again referring to Figs. 3, 8 and 12 of the drawings,

I it will be noted that the latching member 26 comprises a mounting member 62 which may be of generally Tshaped cross-section with a horizontally disposed leg 64 and a vertically disposed intermediate leg 66. The inner end of the leg 64, namely channel shaped segment 68 (see Fig. 12) functions primarily to space the vertical leg 66 from the housing wall 42. The outer end 69 of the leg 64 affords a flange for aflixing the mounting member 62 to the housing flange 48 as by screws and bolts such as 70 and 72 respectively.

Attached to the leg 66 of the mounting member 62 may be a tempered steel strip spring member 74. Rivets such as 76 may be used to attach one end of the spring 74 to the mounting member 62, and rivets such as 78 may be used to attach to the other end an arm 80 of a member 82 adapted to engage the latch actuating member which will now be described in some detail.

The member 82 may comprise a strip of metal with the end of the arm 80 bent outwardly to afford an integrallyformed stop member 84 disposed in a plane which is substantially 90 to the plane of the arm 80. Aportion of the arm 80 and of the stop member 84 may be undercut as at 88, the undercut segment 88 terminating in an upwardly protruding catch member 90. The inner edge 92 of the catch 90 may be of a straight, vertically-extendijn'g design but the outer edge thereof may be inclined as shown at 94 in the several figures of the drawings.

catch member comprises the final or second catch as will be revealed hereinbelow during the description of the operation of the latch.

The opposite side of the stop member 84 is formed with another catch member 96 which protrudes downwardly and is positioned intermediate the inner edge of the segment 84 and the catch member 90. This catch member 96 is also formed with an inner straight edge 98 and an outer inclined edge 100. This catch member 96 comprises the intermediate or safety catch of the latch, the function of which will likewise become apparent as the description proceeds.

It should be noted that the male actuating member 24 and the female latching member 26 may be reversed by making the actuating member movable and the latching member stationary. Accordingly the actuating member 24 may be spring mounted and the latching member 26 made stationary by omitting the spring member 74 and making the mounting member 62 and the latch engaging member 82 integral.

Operation The operation of the latch may best be described and understood by referring to the several figures of the drawings which illustrate the operational steps in the sequence of their occurrence .(see Figs. 3-12 inclusive). Thus in Figs. 3 and 12 of the drawings, it will be noted that as the cover 32 is moved towards its closed position, in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3, the inclined tongue 60 of the male'actuating member 24 passes through a slot 102 formed in the housing mounting ledge 48 in alignment with the member 82. The end of the tongue 60 is brought into contact with the bottom edge of the arm of the member 82. As the cover 32 and actuating member 24 continue to move upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the member 82 is moved outwardly in the direction indicated by the horizontally disposed arrow. This movement is accomplished by virtue of the hereinbelow described structure and relationship of parts.

As was previously mentioned the member 82 is aflixed to the spring 74. Thus, when the inclined stiff tongue 60 is moved up andagainst the bottom edge of the arm 80 of the member 82, the member rides up on the inclined surface of the tongue; the spring-strip flexing to permit the same to move outwardly on the inclined plane.

As the cover 32 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7 of the drawings to the fully closed position, the actuating member 24 likewise moves in the same direction with the stop member 84 riding on the surface of the inclined tongue 60 until the vertically disposed segment 50 of the actuating member 24 arrives. at the member 82. It moves therealong until it, the stop. member 84, is aligned over the opening 58, formed in the segment 50 and defined by the two legs 52, 54 and the vertical leg 56 (see Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings).

As soon as the bottom edge of the leg 52 is aligned with the top edge of the arm 80, with the stop member 84. positioned directly over the opening 58, it will readily be perceived that there is no longer any force. being exerted on the back of the latching member 26. Natural-. ly the. spring member 74 is thereby released to return towards its natural position carrying with it the member 82 :and stop member 84.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings it will be noted that the top. edgeof the arm 80 adjacent the undercut segment 88, acts as an escapement edge. As the aforementioned member 82 snaps back through the opening58 to itsnatural position, the intermediate or safety catch member 96 strikes the leg 54 of the actuating member 24, as shown, in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. This. arrests the returning; movement of the latching member, and, thereby stops: the closing or upward movement, of the cover 32.- This upward, movement of the cover is arrested whenrthe bottom edge of the arm 80 strikes the inner edgeof the leg 54. It should of course be apparent that the width of the opening 58 must be'sufficient to permit ready clearance of the arm 80 therethroughbut must be less than the overall width of the stop member 84 as measured from the top of the catch member 20 to the bottom of the catch member 96. At this point it is important to bear in mind that the spring has not yet fully returned to its normal unflexed'position.

In considering the next movement in the sequence of operations as exemplified in Fig. 9 of the drawings, it should be noted that in the embodiment chosen for illustration, the latch has been applied to an overhead ceiling electrical fixture. It is also important to note in Fig. 8 of the drawings that there is considerable clearance between the bottom edge of the leg 52 and the bottom of the undercut segment 88 formed in the arm 80. Hence when the pushing pressure is released from the cover 32, the exertion of gravity on the cover will tend to cause the same to move back downwardly carrying with it the latch actuating member 24. In such case the leg 54 slides out from engagement with the catch member 96. When this occurs the member 82 is once more freed so that the spring 74 may continue to return to its natural unflexed position carrying with it the member 82.

Once more, however, before it can return to its normal position, it is arrested by the oppositelypositioned final-catch member 90. This is accomplished when the strip 52 drops down into the undercut segment 88 of the arm 80 so that the straight edge 92 of the catch member 90 abuts the leg 52 of the latch actuating member 24. Again it should be noted that the spring member 74 has not yet returned completely to its unflexed, natural position. However this does comprise the full latching position of the latching device.

To release the latch for opening the cover, the operator merely pushes up on the cover 32 in the direction indicated by the vertical :arrow in Fig. 10. This raises the latch actuating member 24 so that the leg 52 thereof is slid out of engagement with the'catch member 90. When this occurs the spring member 74 is once more freed to continue towards its natural unflexed position. This of course carries the stop member 84, in the direction indicated by the horizontal arrow in Fig. 10, back-through the opening'58 s o that said stop member is positioned completely behind the actuating member 24. Again, gravity causes the cover to swing open thereby completing the unlatching'operation.

It should be noted that in both the intermediate and final unlatching operations the inclined edges 94 and 100 of the catch members 90 and 96 respectively cooperate with the latch actuating member 24 to facilitate the operational movements of the members. The sloping surfaces 94 and 100 insure clearance between the catch members and the adjacent edges of the latch actuating legs immediately after the release of the spring member 74.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that an independent spring member such as 104 is provided in the cabinet C. The reason therefor will be apparent when it is noted that since the door of the cabinet 22 is suspended in :a vertical plane rather than a horizontal plane, the force of gravity alone is insuflicient to cause the doors to move outwardly after it has been pushed into the intermediate or safety latching position. The spring also causes the door to swing open after it has been completely unlatched. In effect, in those applications where the door is vertically disposed the spring 104 may be substituted for the force of gravity exerted on the horizontally positioned applications.

From the foregoing description and drawings it will be apparent that I have provided a novel latching device of greatly simplified construction having no moving parts subject to excessive frictional wearing but which insures positive latching action. The latch is so designed and constructed thatlby nierely moving the closure to its' closed position, the latching and latch actuating members I cooperate first to efiect a temporary intermediate latching and then a final full latching relationship. Thereafter in order to open the closure and unlatch the same, all that need be done is :again to merely exert a slight pressure on the closure member sufficient to release the latching stop member, thereby freeing the latch actuating member which in turn releases the door or closure member.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construc-' What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a concealed latch for use in association with a movable closure member; a latch actuating member and a latching member, one of said members mounted on said movable closure member, said latch actuating member comprising an inclined tongue protruding from a C-shaped segment defining a recess open at one side thereof, said latching member comprising a stop member mounted on the free end of a flexible arm, a pair of catch members integrally formed in staggered relationship on said stop member, said inclined tongue adapted to first abut said stop member as said closure member is moved towards its closed position, whereby to flex said flexible arm and thereby permit said stop member to ride upon said tongue until the same is positioned over said recess, one of said catch members adapted to engage an edge of said 'C-shaped segment as the stop member is sprung through said recess thereby arresting the closing movement of said closure member, said last-mentioned catch-member adapted to release said :C-shaped member upon release of pressure on the closure member whereupon the other of said catch-members engages an opposite edge of said C-shaped segment thereby latching said closure member in fully closed position, and said lastmentioned catch memberadapted to release said C-shaped memberwhen said closure member is again urged towards its closed position. a

2. In a concealed latch for use in association with a movable closure member; a latch actuating member and a latching member, one of said second and third-mentioned members mounted on said movable enclosure member and adapted to cooperate with the other of said second and third-mentioned members to latch said closure member when the same is urged to a closed position, said second and third-mentioned members further adapted to unlatch one from the other to release said closure member when the same is again urged inwardly, said latch actuating member comprising a relatively stifi device including an inclined tongue, said latching member including a flexible segment adapted to being flexed by said tongue, said latching member further including a stop member mounted on the free end of said flexible segment and adapted to engage said latch actuating member, said stop member comprising a strip positioned in a vertical plane, said last-mentioned member extending outwardly and substantially perpendicular to the plane of said flexible segment, said stop member having a catch member integrally formed and protruding upwardly from the upper outer corner thereof and a safety catch member depending from the bottom edge and positioned intermediate the length thereof, whereby the movement of said closure member to the closing position is first arrested by said safety catch member, and then securely latched by said first-mentioned catch member.

3. The concealed latch of claim 2 in which said catch members are each formed with an inwardly-facing straight edge and an inclined opposite edge, the straight edges of said catches adapted to cooperate in sequence with said latch actuating member to first stop the inward movement thereof and then retain said member in cooperating latched position. 1

4. In an illuminating fixture having a housing and a hinged cover; a latch'comprising an actuating member mounted on the inside of said cover, said actuating member including a stifl inclined tongue, and a latching member mounted on said housing, said latching member having a flexible spring arm connected at one end to said housing, a plurality of catch members mounted on the free end of said spring arm, said catch members mounted in staggered relationship one with the other, said spring arm and catch members adapted to be flexed by said tongue to move in a path which intersects the path of movement of said hinged cover and latch actuating member whereby said catch members ride upon said tongue until moved into cooperating relationship with said latch actuating member so that one of the catch members cooperates with said actuating member to first stop the. inward movement of said cover and the other then similarly cooperates to latch the same in closed position upon the release of pressure on the hinged cover, said latching member and said actuating member further cooperating to release one from the other when said cover is again urged inwardly.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said latching member comprises a T-shaped mounting member aflixed to a mounting ledge of said housing, said spring arm comprising a strip of spring material afiixed at one end to said mounting member, and a member having said catch members integrally formed therewith, said member attached at one end to said strip of springmaterial, the other end of said member bent outwardly at an angle of substantially 90 to afford a stop member, the upper edge end portion of said stop member having an undercut segment terminating in one of said catch members, said catch member protruding upwardly and the other catch member integrally formed with said stop member and depending from said stop member, said depending cat-ch member positioned intermediate the width of the stop member.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said actuating member comprises a relatively stifi metal stamping having a normally horizontally-disposed mounting segmentaflixed to said cover, a vertically disposed segment integrally formed at one side of said mounting segment, said vertically disposed segment comprising a pair of horizontally extending legs spaced one from the other and an integrally-formed vertically-extending segment connecting said pair of legs at one end and defining a cut-out segment,'and said inclined tongue integrally formed at the upper edge of the upperone of said legs and positioned at the end of said leg opposite said integrally-formed vertically-extending segment, said tongue positioned to engage the back of said latching member to flex the same outwardly, said cut-out segment adapted to permit said latching member to pass therethrough and said catchmembers adapted to be moved consecutively into abutting relationship with said legs thereby arresting the passage of the latching member through said cut-out segment.

7. In a latching mechanism for a device having a movable member with a latch-actuating member having a stiff inclined tongue immovably mounted therein; a latching member mounted in stationary position in said device, said latching member having a flexible spring arm connected at one end to a mounting member, a plurality of catch members mounted in staggered relationship one with the other on the free end of said spring arm, said spring arm and catch members adapted to be flexed by said tongue to move in a path the plane of which intersects the path of movement of said movable member and latch actuating member whereby said catch members ride upon said tongue until moved into cooperating relationship with'said latch actuating member so that one of said catch members first stops the inward movement of said movable member and another of said catch members then latches the same in closed position, said latching member and said actuating member further cooperating to release one from the other when said movable member is again urged inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,183,464 Johnson May 16, 1916 1,198,828 Dixon Sept. 19, 1916 1,509,780 Robertson Sept. 23, 1924 2,565,873 Meyer Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 208,163 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1940 

